it was eight minutes later 10:06 AM 

his cellfones log Missed calls read 09:58

he scribbled it on a piece of paper to memorialise it because it caught his attention like a bright shiny object

he knew of himself if he poked and prodded hed eventually remember the eight minutesthe times

                                                                                                      he wasnt his mother who still didnt bother to keep a small spiral notepad and pen near her to jot things down if they occurred worthwhile to her in the moment

he called her back

eight minutes later

                     Whassup Maw

Oh hi, Joe.

Hey Maw yacalled

I called?

Yah

I called you?

Yah You called me Sounded like you had something on your mi . .  

. . I don’t know, I don’t remember, I don’t remember why I called you.

Not at allhuh

No.

Maybe yasaw something  Are you in the same room when you ca . . 

. . I don’t remember calling you.

I dont want to upset you . . you called me eight minutes ago . . would you guess eight minutes ago youre where you are now Maybe you were in a different room

his parents had multiple telephones throughout their home two levels two livingrooms two kitchens fivethousand square feet

No. I’ve been sitting here in the family room. I haven’t left it.

Okay Maybe I crossed your mind and you just wanted to check insay Hi

No. I don’t think you crossed my mind, I can’t remember, my brain’s a mess, it’s all mashed up, I’m all discombobulated.

Discombobulated Thats a great word Maw six syllables most people dont even know it Your brain cant be so mashed up if you have six syllable words coming out of your mouth

No.  You wouldn’t think so, would you?  Joe. I’m a mess, I’m upset.

How can I help Maw

                      his sister mentioned to him that her daughter believed her grandmother was suffering from undiagnosed Alzheimer’s Shaddup maybe venomous  his niece saw her grandmother once in a blue moondidnt call hed been talking with her on the telephone a couple hours a crack practically once a week for years OH shes a librarian like he wanted to hear her learned diagnosis  Shaddup woudja

discombobulated

                   he wasnt he looked out into the backyard and watched wild birds splash and bathe in the shallow end of his daughters swimming pool

absently he asked her You use this much

Excuse me?

Your pool Use it much

Not much.

Clean it yourself

No. Have somebody who does.

Pretty expensive bird bath

discombobulated

                   Maw Do you think you remember an use discombobulated because Dads name Bob is in it

she laughed worry went out of her voice Oh, Joe, that’s choice, I’ll have to remember to tell him that.

Got your pad

               Write it down

0958,  Monday,  24  2. 20

1253,  Sunday – Tolzs birthday,  30  8. 20